Statement attributable to the Spokesman of the Secretary-General on South Sudan (08.08.2016)

IGAD Plus

The Secretary-General welcomes the communique of the Heads of State and Government of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Plus countries.

NEW YORK, United States of America, August 8, 2016 – The Secretary-General welcomes the communique of the Heads of State and Government of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Plus countries. He commends the IGAD leaders for their decisive action and welcomes the Government of South Sudan’s acceptance of a regional protection force. He calls on all South Sudanese leaders to set aside their personal differences and demonstrate their commitment to the implementation of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, which remains the only viable path to ending the crisis.

The Secretary-General remains deeply concerned about the continued fighting in the country and calls for an immediate end to the hostilities. He is outraged by the continued reports of serious human rights violations and abuses, including widespread sexual violence against women and young girls, committed by armed men in uniform. He calls on all parties to uphold their responsibility to protect civilians and demands that they take immediate steps to hold accountable those responsible for these despicable crimes.

The Secretary-General reiterates his commitment to work with all South Sudanese, IGAD, the African Union and international partners, to implement the recommendations of today’s summit.

South Sudan: Zero Draft Communique of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the IGAD Plus on the Situation in South Sudan (05.08.2016)

IGAD Plus 06.08.2016 P1IGAD Plus 06.08.2016 P2IGAD Plus 06.08.2016 P3IGAD Plus 06.08.2016 P4

IGAD-Plus meeting in Addis intervenes in South Sudan with 500 Regional Peacekeepers; what will it really mean to the nation?

IGAD Plus

Here we go again… and again. With more helmets, but what do these helmets really do? Fixing the bows and arrows or making sure the PoC sites are safe?

What where about to happen today:

“The Assembly of Heads of State and Government IGAD and the African Union Ad-hoc Committee on South Sudan, referred to as the IGAD Plus will this afternoon hold a Summit meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to deliberate on the prevailing situation in South Sudan. The meeting will be chaired by H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and current Chairperson of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government with the attendance of Heads of State from the region and representatives from the UN, African Union, JMEC and IGAD” (IGAD Secretariat, 05.08.2016).

There been indicated from numerous sources that the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) who are holding a conference on the crisis in South Sudan have reported that the IGAD Plus heads of state has decided that the nation should accept 500 Peacekeepers in the Country.

IGAD Maagoub Maalim wanted it to be a ‘protective force’, that ‘we’re to prepare and implement of the Peace Agreement of 2015. That the forces we’re to ‘protection of civilians and on humanitarian issues’; the way the peacekeepers will be hashed out through the South Sudan Army Chiefs and the GoSS. The peacekeepers are not there to keep Dr. Riek Machar safe, but keep the Peace Agreement implemented.

The FVP Gen. Taban Deng Gai will stepdown when Dr. Riek Machar will return to Juba, as he said also in the days before he where swore in. But the initial reports of the IGAD Plus hasn’t said anything of the new cabinet under the TGoNU as the changes of getting rid of loyal Ministers from SPLM-IO have not been stated. As the loyalty to President Salva Kiir Mayardit is the ones behind before the GoSS delegation travelled to Addis Ababa.

What this will really mean for the fragile situation and the armies on the ground is not easy to say. As Dr. Riek Machar and his loyal soldiers is not part of the intervention and in the main discussion other than a bystander at the giant party in Ethiopia. The reality is that 500 peacekeepers can do something, but who pays for the battalions in South Sudan? Who of the noble leaders have state-coffers to sustain the extra mission? Who of the IGAD Plus have the manpower to fulfil the duty of having men stationed in Juba and beyond?

Are this a plan for President Kiir to get President Museveni to send his 500 UPDF soldiers to make sure the SPLA under him safe and sound while working under the paradigm of continuation of Kiir Government in Juba? That is just my conspiracy as the initial speculations to why President Museveni is so against Arms-Embargo as his fellow neighbour. We all know that Museveni might has interests to have a weapon trading partner; not just selling fruit-juice and beers from Kampala.

We can all over time see what this will have to say for the young nation. If this is just lose talk to silence the neighbours or sincere approach to generate a sort of peace between the fighting brothers. Peace.

South Sudan are more fragile as the SPLM-IO minister’s sacked from the TGoNU; the continued reports are staggering of a deteriorated state of affairs!

South Sudan 21.07.2016 SPLMIO Deflector

The Peace Agreement of 2015 deteriorates as the newly formed government takes place and the torn relationship between Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO). As the start of July the new violence erupted between the two parties of President Kiir and his First Vice President Machar. Here is the newest:

“The president of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, has sacked six ministers allied to his long-time rival, Riek Machar. He has replaced them with people linked to a breakaway faction of Mr Machar’s SPLM-IO party. The posts include the key interior and petroleum ministries. Correspondents say this will further fuel the tension between Mr Kiir and Mr Machar. Their forces have engaged in renewed fighting during the past three weeks. The United Nations says this has caused a further sixty-thousand people to flee South Sudan, and is pushing the country towards a humanitarian catastrophe” (BBC Africa, 03.08.2016).

So with the loyalist from SPLM-IO have been sacked by President Salva Kiir as the problems between Dr. Riek Machar and him continues with new battles that happen in Juba in early July and to this day. This show the worrying signs of a new conflict between the Executive Kiir and the rebel Machar. Even with two years of military conflict between the parties and the peace agreement of late 2015; this also leads to massive amounts of refugees from South Sudan are estimated at the levels of 60,000 who have crossed to neighbour countries. 30,000 have crossed to Uganda alone. So the need for Humanitarian assistance to the refugee camps in Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia needs funding for the newly arrived refugees there. Together with the food-drops from UN World Food Program who has been raided their main storage houses in Juba, therefore the new tactic for food delivery is dropping food over areas to stop the humanitarian crisis happening with the military operations in the country; as the levels of cholera is also rising as reported by UNICEF.

Juba Cholera

A report on Cholera:

“At least 522 cases and 17 people have died because of a cholera outbreak in South Sudan, according to the ‘Situation Report #15 on Cholera in South Sudan’, from July 30, 2016. The Ministry of Health announced a suspected outbreak of the water-borne illness on July 18, 2016” (South Sudan Today, 01.08.2016).

There are also reports like this:

Makuei made the remarks after a Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) meeting in Khartoum during which the commission concluded that South Sudan’s August 2015 peace deal is at the verge of collapse and demanded immediate intervention.“I think there is something wrong with JMEC,” Makuei told reporters in Juba on August 2. He says the JMEC must prove itself to be a joint body, otherwise the commission is “useless” and “will not serve the interest of South Sudan and will not help in the implementation of the agreement” (…) “Makuei says the government will proof to Akol that the peace agreement hasn’t collapsed. “He has been carried away by his ambitions, because Lam Akol has his own ambition of becoming the president of South Sudan. The same with Riek Machar and the two cannot go together,” says Makuei, adding that “the two only agree when they are not in power, but once they are in power, they disagree” (TheNiles.org, 03.08.2016).

This report also:

“The government of South Sudan has dismissed reports circulating on social media that Riek will capture Juba. Information Minister Michael Makuei said during the press conference yesterday evening that the news circulating on social media is untrue and media propaganda.

“There are a lot of wild rumors these days on the social media and our people are made to believe that the news is correct. Riek Machar is on the run, would you expect him to organize forces from nowhere and prepare to attack Juba from four directions – this is media propaganda,” he said” (…) UNMISS did not come here to come and colonize us, but it came to serve the people of South Sudan. All the international NGOs that came to South Sudan did not come to South Sudan to conquer it,” he said. “The way these organizations are behaving is unbecoming. Some have abandoned their mandates and have started to do different jobs which are not within their mandates. Writing controversial reports and slipping them out without informing the government and those reports go and appear over there.” (The National Courier, 03.08.2016).

As this is happening with the sackings the decree and swearing-in of new loyalist of President Kiir has happen as the Government or newly created TGoNU are occurring. The President have made sure he has own men in as the former FVP Machar have gone to the bush. The SPLM-IO and others have been gotten rid of and in initially have this given more power directly to the SPLM and the President. As he has gotten a new FVP Gen. Taban Deng Gai former SPLM-IO who has been sacked from SPLM-IO, so he is no longer part of Dr. Riek Machar.

This has also been reported:

“Over one hundred United Nations workers were recently denied entry or deported at the Juba International Airport due to new regulations issued by the Directorate of Immigration, sources tell Radio Tamazuj” (…) “The new regulations “is a clear violation of the spirit and intent of the Status of Forces Agreement” Shantal Persaud, a spokesperson for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan told Radio Tamazuj over email. “These new rules apply only to UNMISS and UN agency personnel and not to all internationals” (…)”Persaud said that four UNMISS personnel were deported this weekend, and pointed out that the peace agreement states that “The Government undertakes to facilitate the entry into and departure from South Sudan, without delay or hindrance, of the Special Representative and members of UNMISS as well as from payment of any fees or charges on entering into or departing from South Sudan” (Radio Tamazuj, 02.08.2016).

So with the changes of TGoNU or TGNU shows the legitimate problems with the central government of Salva Kiir in South Sudan, as the responsible agreements between his SPLM and SPLM-IO; this continues with the violence between the political and armed groups as they doesn’t want the world and International Organizations to question their actions. As the reports from July alone are harassment and rapes of woman we’re in the numbers of 120, and some of them even inside the UN Internally Displaced Camps in Juba. Therefore the reactionary and disruption of laws are shown with the mentality of the rebels and army in the capital of South Sudan.

SPLA during a previous function in Juba

UN condemns the recent violence:

“This is my second visit to South Sudan since I assumed my role as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator in June last year. Sadly, since I was here one year ago, the humanitarian situation has significantly deteriorated, including in areas that were relatively stable last time I visited. Displacement and hunger are now widespread across the country. During my visit, I had the opportunity to meet with His Excellency the President of the Republic of South Sudan, Mr. Salva Kiir Mayardit, and his most senior Government Officials to discuss the dire and worsening humanitarian crisis. I expressed my shock and dismay at the appalling reports of violations committed against civilians during fighting in recent months, including in Juba. In particular, I condemned the heinous acts of sexual violence carried out against women and girls, including by members of the armed forces” (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 03.08.2016).

With these reports together with the recent actions is not actually given peace a chance. They are instead busier with getting the guns and ammunition against each other. The violence and battles are destroying the chance for mediation and dialogue as the newly reunited groups have gone away from each other and have distanced themselves even more. The drop of SPLM-IO in TGoNU together with banishing the UNMISS and UN Officials barring from entering the South Sudan, as the media are under siege proves that the Government doesn’t have the interest of being questioned for their activity as they are trying to silence the SPLM-IO after the recent battles inside Juba. They are now battling on the outside and other places. This has happen as the violence in Wau and other areas have erupted as well.

This has also been reported:

“ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AA) – Rebel leader Riek Machar’s office has strongly criticized the international community and guarantors of peace process for allegedly being passive to the political turmoil in the South Sudanese capital Juba. The guarantors include Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya and other African countries in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) trade bloc. “There is a serious lack of support from the international community and the guarantors to the peace agreement,” Machar’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) said in a statement Wednesday” (Alaturka E-Gazetesi, 03.08.2016).

Last Report:

“UN agencies said refugees had reported gunmen trying to block their flight and harassing them on the way” (…) “Armed groups operating across different parts of South Sudan are looting villages, murdering civilians and forcibly recruiting young men and boys into their ranks,” UNHCR spokeswoman Melissa Fleming told a briefing in Geneva” (WarsintheWorld.com, 03.08.2016).

Tanks 10.07.2016 Juba

All of these reports are not pleasant as the citizens and the people are the ones in the cross-fire and the development at a standstill as the SPLM and SPLM-IO is barred against each other. Together with the questionable TGoNU government with no SPLM-IO ministers as the Dr. Riek Machar as the nemesis of Gen. Salva Kiir who became the President Kiir.

The IGAD, the UNMISS might question together with the United Nations might intervene, but the peacekeepers and more blue helmets doesn’t stop the continuously infighting between SPLM and SPLM-IO; as long as the trust between the big-men doesn’t exists, because Kiir cannot trust a man who at one point allied themselves with Bashir in Khartoum instead of the South Sudanese. These issues will never differ and lay behind the actions of President Kiir. Therefore the agreement and cease-fire between them was flawed from the get-go as the trust isn’t built overnight. Also with the knowledge of the recent actions the mentality and ability for peace is weaken by fleeing from office from Machar after trying to assassinate Kiir in Juba, as he has explained to foreign media and the closeness of the killings.

What is the next moves and where this goes is not easy, as the two big-men play continues to cost lives, continues to escalate the violence and instability of the South Sudanese Republic. This is worrying and the reasons for it is the citizens who are used as pawns by the Juba-Government and rebels in the field who fights against the centralized forces, while the blue-helmets and international community watches the atrocities are occurring in and around Juba. While even reports of recruiting child-soldiers and the rapes are showing that the state cease to exists and the army with their militarized justice is deteriorating from lawfulness. The international community has to find another way to make sure the actors and the Executive can generate peace and destabilize the armies as they will continue to fight until the forces win. These being said as the peace between them only lasted a few months, while the civil war lasted for months upon months. Peace.

“Government of National Unity overthrown” – Maribor Garang (Youtube-Clip)

“The son of SPLA founder, Dr. John Garang has said the struggling Transitional Government of National Unity has already been overthrown. Mabior Garang de Mabior who is also the minister of Water and Irrigation in the unity government made statement last evening in response to the overwhelming questions about the status of administration in the South Sudan capital Juba. The Transitional Government was put in place in May 2016 in contact with the peace treaty signed between the regime of President Salva Kiir and the SPLA in Opposition leadership under Dr. Riek Machar” (WBS TV Uganda, 2016)

Press Statement: Dr. Lam Akol resigns from TGoNU (01.08.2016)

Lam Akol PS 28.07.2016 P1Lam Akol PS 28.07.2016 P2

Worrying signs of a new civil-war in South Sudan

Maribor Garang 31.07.2016

Maribor Garang on NBS TV Uganda Liveat9 31.07.2016: “The situation in South Sudan is deteriorating. There is lack of command. Riek Machar is now with his forces. Our forces have been under attack”.

There been various reports all from besieging of Juba from the SPLM-IO rebel forces towards the SPLA/SPLM under President Salva Kiir, who has in the recent days made General Taban Deng Gai his First Vice-President from the SPLM-IO; instead of Dr. Riek Machar who left after the recent in-fighting that happen between 7th to 9th July. The days after has left things in a limbo, where even UNMISS and other organizations have fled the Capital. While the Storage and Warehouse of UN World Food Programe have been raided and taken from. As the crisis have surged; that will also the outbreak of Cholera and other staggering issues. The fragile state is also with the dwindling loyalty and structure as the SPLA/M and the SPLM-IO is taking areas and battling. The battle continues to between the Government under President Kiir and the Chairman of SPLM-IO in opposition under Dr. Machar. Both have history of distrust, not only the 3 year civil war that we’re squashed under the 2015 Peace Agreement, but also through the loyalty bonds between Garang and Khartoum. As Kiir has taken over from Garang, while Machar fled to Khartoum and “sold out” to the Khartoum regime something Kiir never forgiven him for. But here is the recent report, which is not really good news, but worry of the signs in the sand.

South Sudan 21.07.2016 SPLMIO Deflector

Deflection from SPLM-IO:

“More than 1500 recently defected forces from SPLM IO under General Dau Aturjong have crossed into South Sudan from Sudan’s Darfur yesterday. The forces were received at Gok Machar in Lol State by the SPLA Third Division commander Major General Santino Deng Wol” (Talk of Juba, 21.07.2016).

Attacks in Nasir:

“According to Dukhan Jundit Both, a spokesman of SPLM/SPLA-IO in the county, Salva Kiir’s loyal forces have attacked their position this morning outside Nasir town. “Salva Kiir Mayardit SPLM_Juba is on offensive again for third time in our defensive positions in Nasir County.” Both said. “This month the president Kiir force had attacked our forces twice on 7th and 8th July, 2016 just after the fighting broke out in Juba between the bodyguards of First Vice President, Dr Riek Machar-Teny, and president Salva Kiir’s presidentials guards in Palace or J1.” (…)“Let the world know that shelling our position by Salva Kiir forces since 4:30 am today on Sunday ,is a clear violation of peace as they did last week by appointing their friend General Taban Deng Gai as illegitimate first vice president in Juba.” (…)  “In self-defense we most fight as the bullets are burning hut of cattle ,crops and endangering the life of children ,vulnerable people’s and pregnant women in Nasir” (…)“As our chairman declared on 14/7/2016 ,SPLM IO is awaiting the arrival of the third party forces from IGaD to be buffer zone between the two rivals army in juba.” (Nyamilepedia, 30.07.2016).

Endorsing Gen. Taban Deng Gai:

“Hon. Duer Tut Duer, the SPLM-IO Governor of Sobat state, confirmed his allegiance to the FVP Taban Deng Gai today and called upon all Jikany all over the world to support Gen. Taban and President Salva Kiir. Hon. Duer Tut advised the Jikany in the Diaspora not to support Riek Machar who is not working for peace in South Sudan. He strongly urged the entire Jikany community to work for peace under the competent leadership of Gen. Taban and President Kiir” (Wel Yam, 30.07.2016).

In Juba: Dozen of wounded SPLA soldiers were brought to Juba Teaching Hospital last evening, according to an eyewitness. The anonymous source confirms that two military Landcruisers arrived yesterday to the hospital at about 8pm with dozen of SPLA soldiers who were wounded in Luri. More information is yet to be obtain from the local authority” (MirayFM, 30.07.2016).

In Juba: Two SPLA soldiers have been executed for killing and robbing civilians in various areas around Juba, according to a military source. The two disgruntled individuals were arrested in Gudele on Wednesday after being involved in robbing a civilian and shooting the victim. The victim later died at Juba teaching hospital due to a heavy bleeding. Another source that identifies himself as Cosmas Taban, in Jebel says that people in camouflage robbed some of his neighbours at a gunpoint early this week. He added that Juba is in a state of dystopia; proliferation of brutality everyday and everywhere, which forced some of his neighbours to seek refugee in Uganda” (MirayFM, 30.07.2016).

No Shift in Intervention Force:

“Michael Makuei says that President Kiir hasn’t changed his position unlike what JMEC chair told BBC and said in a press statement. He said the government had never rejected deployment of Personal Protection Force for Riek Machar. He revealed that this was also discussed by President Kiir and President Museveni when they met earlier in the week. He said that “incase Riek Machar comes back he can be accorded protection by a third party force if he so wishes.” He said that in the agreement, Article 5.4 allows for deployment of Personal Protection Force for Riek Machar if he wants assuming that the IO allows him to resume the chairmanship” (The National Courier, 30.07.2016).

police_gen-f7960

Order from SPLM-IO:

“The chairman and commander in chief of SPLM/SPLM_IO Dr.Riek Machar Teny has appointed Lt.General John Jok Gai as sector commander for Greater Central Equatorial” (Daboul Roow, 31.07.2016).

First orders of FVP Gen. Taban Deng Gai:

“Taban Deng Gai accepted one army, 28 states, and no foreign force intervention which goes against the Agreement on Resolutions of the Conflict in South Sudan(ARCISS) provisions. Taban Deng Gai’s Crown Hotel SPLM/A-IO and illegal office will eventually disappear in a similar passion to Lul Ruai Kong’s paper based political and military movement” (Kuaijen Lual Wechtuor, 31.07.2016).

Stealing cattle from Kiir’s farm:

South Sudan’s SPLA in Opposition forces of Dr Riek Machar on Saturday invaded and grabbed about 2,000 cattle from the farm of the country’s President Salva Kiir. Yesterday’s battle in the Central Equatoria extended to Juba County and eventually reached Luri, 15 kilometers south of capital Juba where Kiir has a cattle farm and indeed his known biggest personal investment” (Okello, Dickens H, 31.07.2016 – Chimpsreport).

Yei, 31.07.2016
Yei, 31.07.2016

What Miray FM have reported:

In Yei today:

“In Yei: Fierce shooting erupted on Kaya road in Yei County of former Central Equatoria State this morning, according to a local source in Yei. The source confirms that until now vehicles are not now allowed to go to Mororbo County or from Morobo to Yei. Authority in the area says that the shooting was just a small incident perpetrated by some criminals. However, the recent security forces which were deployed in the area have also become a problem, locals have accused them of perpetrating unbearable harassment, arrest, killing, beating and robbing due to lack of communication. When the forces stop you they will demand everything in your pocket and sometimes you don’t even understand them, because 99 percent of them don’t speak Arabic accept their dialect” (MirayFM, 31.07.2016).

In Juba today:

“In Juba: Juba military hospital full of wounded SPLA soldiers according to a military source in Bilpam” (MirayFM, 31.07.2016).

A message of Hope:

“Bishop Elioba Laku of Lainya Diocese in Juba has sounded an impassioned plea for peace. Renewed violence in Lainya has prompted many people to leave their homes. Bishop Eliabu is one of the few people that have remained stuck in Lainya, hoping that peace and calm will return. Speaking to Miraya Breakfast show, Bishop Eliabu said; “There is no need to evacuate the people, rather efforts must be made to restore peace so that people can return to their homes.” (Radio Miraya, 31.07.2016).

Festus Mogae 28.07.2016

All of these reports from recent 48 hours are not of a stellar secure situation as the remain factors are not developed as the battling and skirmishes seems to happen between Kiir’s SPLM/A and the Machar’s SPLM-IO forces in different districts and states. As the space around Juba is under siege or not is not certain, but that there is SPLM-IO forces who tries to take areas from the Government. When their leader has been clipped of by the Government as Gen. Taban Deng Gai we’re sworn in as First Vice-President of the Republic. These actions have put the fractions of SPLM/A and the SPLM-IO into the same waters as they we’re in before they signed the Peace Agreement of 2015. This happens just months after he came back to Juba and we’re reinstated and parts of the SPLM-IO we’re integrated into the newly formed Parliament under the Transitional Government for National Unity (TGNU). The question we now can ask if these brother really wanted peace?

As the length of the stay in Juba we’re small and the window between the first shooting and open battles we’re in fragments of imagination. The issue is if President Salva Kiir or FVP Riek Machar really had it in their heart to even try, as it seems to be easier to be on the trigger finger and by the rifles than speaking and negotiating as they both wants to rule with Chain-in-Command and with force; not with transparent and accountable governance as the military aspects and the militarized politics doesn’t create a space for the institutions and government to grow. The NGO’s and the Foreign Aid agencies do what the civil government are expected to do. Therefore what is left in the new nation is the army and power of force instead of building sound institutions. These might be why the men are fighting with force. What do you feel, as there skirmishes and battles continue and the soldiers die in their name for their wish to run and rule the Republic? Peace.

Footage: H.E Gen Taban Deng Gai speaking to media after the day of his swearing in office as the First President of the Republic of South Sudan.

South Sudan: SPLM/SPLA are directing less movement of UNMISS in the country (26.07.2016)

South Sudan Letter 26.07.2016

UNICEF response to South Sudan refugee situation – Media Update (28.07.2016)

Kiryandongo

Following an inter-agency assessment mission comprising of UNHCR, Office of Prime Minister, UNICEF and other partners, a new settlement is to be opened in Yumbe district.

KAMPALA, Uganda, July 28, 2016/APO/ —

Situation

  • According to UNHCR, 2,442 South Sudanese refugees arrived on July 25, 2016 through Elegu, Moyo, Lawmo, Arua and Kiryandongo. Total number of arrivals since 17th July 2016 is 37,890.
  • 73% of all new arrivals are children; 27,660 have arrived in the last 3 weeks.
  • Following an inter-agency assessment mission comprising of UNHCR, Office of Prime Minister, UNICEF and other partners, a new settlement is to be opened in Yumbe district. This settlement could potentially host up to 100,000 refugees.
  • UNICEF has delivered 23 large tents to support services in health, child protection and education at Elegu, in Nyumanzi, Pagirinya, Rhino Camp, Maaji III and Oraba border in Arua.

UNICEF Humanitarian response

Health & Nutrition:

Immunisation: between 19-26th July 2016, 5,501 children (4,487 under five, 1,014 above five years) were immunised against Polio; 11,536 children (4,313 under-fives, 7,223 above 5 years but below 15 years old) were immunised against measles. UNICEF is supporting the Uganda National Expanded Programme on Immunisation and district authorities to ensure that all children who arrive at the various border points are immunised. Adjumani and Arua districts have enough vaccines to support the response. UNICEF and Ministry of Health have a target of 15,000 under-fives for polio and 30,000 children below 15 years for measles immunisation.

  • Nutrition: In the past 4 days, there has been an increase in the Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) among the refugees arriving at Elegu Reception Centre from 3.6% to 6.2%, an indication that the current arrivals have trekked longest or furthest.
  • From 18-26 July 2016, 4,331 children under-five were screened for nutrition and out of these, 270 are malnourished (GAM monitoring representing 6.2%). UNICEF and partner Concern Worldwide are monitoring the situation and will continue to assess the nutritional status of new arrivals.
  • 24,191 under-five children have been de-wormed to boost their immunity while 4,815 have received Vitamin A supplements to retain nutrient contents of food and facilitate normal growth.

 

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene                                

  • Five boreholes have been installed in Pagirinya refugee settlement to provide safe water to the new arrivals by UNICEF through Danish Refugee Council and Water Missions. 2,500 refugees are benefiting from boreholes.
  • UNICEF has delivered water, sanitation and hygiene supplies (10 cartons of laundry soap, 10 boxes of aqua tabs each contains 14,000 tabs, 3 mobilets, 10 handwashing facilities, 2 tins of 50 kgs of chorine power, 5 sets of latrine digging kits, 30 garbage plastic bags, 100 pieces of child potty, 20 heavy duty gloves, 20 gumboots, 20 hard brushes) to Elegu.
  • 4, 000 litres of Effective Micro-Organism (EMO) have been delivered to Adjumani to be used in Nyumanzi, Elegu reception center and Pagirinya settlements. EMO is a solution that is used for stench elimination and sludge reduction in latrines.
  • UNICEF is supporting Water Mission Uganda (WMU) to deploy additional hygiene promoters to sensitize/pass on good hygiene and sanitation practices to refugees at the Elegu reception center.
  • A pivate drilling company is on standby to drill 20 new boreholes once the new settlement area is cleared and ready to receive new arrivals.
  • Education:
    • Five tents of 72 square meters and 1 tent of 24 square meters have been delivered and mounted at Pagirinya Feeder School in Pagirinya Refugee Settlement. 1,500 new arrivals have been registered at the school which teaches pupils from Primary one-four.
    • Windle Trust, a partner with UNHCR has recruited 31 additional teachers to teach at Pagirinya Feeder School. The selection of teachers for the settlements is done by Windle Trust, UNICEF and district education officer.
    • Seven tents have been delivered and mounted at Maaji III refugee settlement. The school has a population of 3,500 in Primary one-six. The school was started in April this year.
    • 13 replenishment kits containing scholastic materials like books, chalk, pencils were delivered to Adjumani District Education Officer.

    Child Protection:

    • Tracing and Family reunification: UNICEF through its partners, Save the Children (using CPIMS)  and Uganda Red Cross has registered 139 separated children and 411 unaccompanied children in Adjumani and 1,550 separated children and 71 unaccompanied children registered by Save the Children in Kiryandongo. Both Save the Children and Uganda Red Cross are engaged in Family Tracing and reunification at the collection points, the reception and transit centres and the settlements and children are being reunified. Family tracing was done for 14 (6 female and 8 male) missing children at Elegu collection centre and reunified on spot with their families. The partners are conducting awareness rasing on child protetcion, child care and safety for new arrivals to avoid further separation and abuse of children.
    • Support and monitoring the child help desk where child related cases are reported and services provided accordingly.
    • Psychosocial support and counselling: 2,000 children have been registered at and are attending Child Friendly Space (CFS) activities in the CFS constructed in Nyumanzi refugee settlement by Save the Children with support from UNICEF, 1,066 have been registered and attending CFS activities in Kiryandongo at a child friendly space constructed by TPO.
    • All children that enter through the border points are receiving specialised psychosocial support to help deal with trauma they experience. The counselling is done under the guidance of care givers. At the child friendly spaces, experts are using play as a form of therapy. Children are encouraged to play both indoor and outdoor games. The outdoor games include football, netball, slides and sand boxes while indoor activities include story telling, drawing, chess, snakes and ladders, Ludo and omweso.
    • Behaviour Change support:UNICEF via Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS), is rolling out community engagement activities in the emergency districts. Currently URCS is conducting a behaviour change rapid assessment to inform the specific interventions to be carried out.

      Alongside this, Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), infant and young children feeding and immunization are being adapted and translated into the relevant local languages and will be distributed during interpersonal communication/social mobilisation activities. A social mobiliser’s message kit has been shared with all partners in order to disseminate key messages on Health, WASH, Nutrition, Child Protection & Education.